Serving table



Aug. 8, 1933. s GRAHAM SERVING TABLE Filed Aug. 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 5 /0 ,/7 W Zar/ J Graham.

Gum/M45 Aug. 8, 1933. E, s. GRAHAM 1,921,462

SERVING TABLE Filed Aug. 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 40 below said sill or top of door, a tray for corn keepers engage the rim and hold the tray rigid- Patented Au 8, 1933 v I Q t gz fl zf Z uNi'rsn STATES PATENT ()FFICE SERVING TABLE 7 Earl Graham, Dallas, Tex., assignor to Inside Tray Company, a Corporation of Texas Application August 20, 1932." Serial No. 29,571 8 Claims. (01. 45 51) This invention relates to new and useful im- Figure 1 is an isometrical viewof a serving provements in serving tables. table constructed in accordance with the inven- One object of the invention is to provide an tion, 7 I improved serving table adapted to be attached Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional 55130 the door or inner side of an automobile for viewtaken n the l ne 2- of Figure 60 serving drinks and food. I Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but A particular Object f the invention is t showing the frame in an inclined position and provide a serving table arranged for mounting the tray level and supported .on the inner side onthe inside of an automobile and for attachof the door of an automobile, which is shown ment to the door orwindow sill so as to supin section, v

' port drinks and food in front of the occupant, Figure 4 is an isometrical view of another thereby protecting the clothing from liquid form showing a frame for receiving a tray, drippings and dropped particles of food, as well Figure 5 is an isomctrical view of a ay V as making for convenience. engaging in the frame, and A further object of the invention is to pro- 7 I Figure is at 011241 View showing a tray 70' vide a serving table including an elongated fastened in the frame. I frame for receiving a tray and having supports In the d aW the numeral 10 (Figures atone end, whereby said frame and tray may 2 and 3) designates a frame which -y be Supported from the door and window on the shaped. and right-angular so as to receive one inside of an automobile and the tray disposed d 0 a fi a erving tray W h is 7 transversely of the automobile; also whereby pivoted in the frame by means of pivots 12. an ordinary rectangular traymay be mounted The pivots 12 are carried by the outer ends of in the frame. the frame and are secured to the central portion Still another object of the invention is to of the tray O ch S de t e eof. combine with the frame and the supports there- An ordinary tray may be used and such trays 8) for, receptacles or pockets extending above the e u u y formed With a rim flange l3 d tray, for holding small articles such as chew this flange overhangs the frame, .as is indie ing gum, cigarettes, etc. 'cated in the drawings. For the purposes of .de- A very important object of the invention scription, the end of the tray which is Within to provide a frame with a tray pivotally mount the frame will be called the inner end, and the ed therein in conjunction with a latch. whereby opposite end of the tray will becalled the outer the tray may be secured in a level position when end. I the frame is held at an inclination, owing to At the centralportion of the yoke is mountthe slanting side wall of the car, against which ed an upright spring latch 14 having its lower wall the end of the frame rests. x end rigidly attached to the outer side of the A further object of the inventionisto pruframe and provided at its upper end. withfa vide a serving table arranged for mounting on curved finger grip 15. On its inner side the the inside of h an automobile for the attachlatch has a plurality of notched keepers 16 ment toa door or window sill, so as tosupport, which overhang the rim 13 of the tray. These taining drinks and food, in such a manner that ly, in thedifferent positions to which it may be all props and supoprts below the tray will be swung' If desired the latch may be curved so eliminated, thus permitting the tray to be posias to overhang the tray and more efficiently entioned directly over and across the top of. the gage its rim. By grasping the finger grip 15 diner without interference from underlying supand pulling the latch away from the tray, the ports or props, as well as not interfering with latter is instantly released. the raising and lowering of the window glass. The frame may be provided with any kind of A construction designed to. carry out the 'i:osupports, but I prefer to employ a pair of sheet 7 vention will be hereinafter described together metal boxes or receptacles 17 secured to the with other features of the invention. corners of the frame. Each box has an exten- The invention will be more readily understood sion 18 on its outer side overlapping the frame from a reading of the following specification and rigidly secured thereto. This permits the and by reference to the accompanying drawbottom of the box to abut the transverse memings in which an example of the invention is her of the frame. At the front of the inner shown, and wherein: side wall of each boX an inturned car 19 is prohangers have down-turned hooks 21 at their upper ends. These hooks are shaped to engage over the sill A of the window opening of the door or window of an automobile, so that the hangers and boxes may rest against the inner.

Wall of the door or body, whereby the frame 10 is supported on the inside of the vehicle and transversely thereof. The hook 21 may be suitably covered with rubber tubing or the like to protect the finish of the sill.

In the majority of automobiles the inner wall of the door or body is arranged on aslant or at an angle to the perpendicular and, therefore, the frame 10 would. be disposed at an inclination. By pivoting a tray and providing the spring latch 14, said tray may be'fastened in a level position, thus reventing bflS spilling of liquids and the slidingof dishes to one end of the tray. disposing the frame and tray transversely of the vehicle and on the inside thereof, said tray is positioned in front of the occupant and food may be served and eaten without spillins or dropping on the clothes of said. occupant.

Various commodities, such as cigarettes, chewing gum, and the like, may be placed in the boxes 17.

Another form of the invention is shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6. In this form the frame 10 is made rectangular to receive an ordinary rectangular-tray 11 so that the rim 13 will overhang the frame. This permits ordinary trays to be used and the purchaser need. only buy the frame if he already has the trays.

The boxes 1'? have extensions 13' which are cutfiush with the frame so as to permit the rim of the tray to overhang. In this form it is preferable to it the tray more snugly than in the pivoted structure. The boxes are provided with notches 22 for receiving the rim or the tray and the outer end of the tray may be fastened in the frame by means of a clip 23, as is" shown in Figure 6. A spring finger 2dmay be securedon the outer end of the tray 11 or on the outer end of the frame 19 for holding napkins and other flat articles. The tray 11 of course, be removed whenever it is desired.

ihe description which has been given recites mor or less detail ofa particular embodiment of the invention, which is set forth as new and useful, however, I desire it understood that the invention is not limited to such exact details of construction because it is manifest that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: r

1. In a serving table, a frame, a traymounted in the frame, boxes secured to one end of the frame, and hangers attached to the boxes.

2. In a serving table, arectangular frame, a rectangular tray mounted in the frame, boxes secured-to one end of the frame, and hangers s'eoured'to the boxes for mounting thetable on the wall of an automobile body and supporting the tray transversely of the body. I V

3. In a serving table, a frame, a tray pivoted transversely in the frame, boxes secured to one in the frame and having its rim overlying the frame, means for engaging the rim of the tray for fastening it in position in the frame, boxes rigidly secured to the'corners'of the frame at one end thereof, and hangers extending upwardly from the boxes.

5. In a serving table, a yoke-shaped frame, a rectangular serving tray pivoted within said frame, a spring latch mounted on the frame and having keepers for engaging the rim of the tray, and hangers connected with the frame for suspending the latter. i

6. In a serving-tablefor automobiles, a support having upright hangers atone end for engaging the wail of an automobile and holding the support transversely below the top of said wall, a frame transversely pivoted in the support,

whereby it may be leveled independently of the' means on the support for fastening the tray in different adjusted positionsto level it, and an inwardly extending hanger rigidly attached to said support, the table being free from props underlying the tray. 7

'8.'In a serving table, a support havingup wardly extending hangers at one end for engaging the top of an automobile body wall andholding said support transversely, a serving tray transversely hinging in said support and free to be swung upwardly and downwardly, whereby said tray may be leveled irrespective of the position of said support, and means carried by the support for fastening the tray in its different adjusted positions, the support and tray being free from underlying props.

EARL S. GRAHAM. 

